Mobile phone telephony

ABSTRACT

A method of operating a mobile phone telecommunications network is provided, comprising using at least one mobile switching center (MSC) of the network to receive at least one message, and as a result to generate a mobile application part (MAP) message, transmitting the MAP message from the MSC to at least one service control point (SCP) of the network, and operating the SCP to process the MAP message. Processing of the MAP message by the SCP may comprise, for example, determining the subsequent handling of the MAP message, and charging a sender of the message received by the MSC. The message received by the MSC may comprise a text message, for example, a text message generated using the short message service (SMS).

This invention relates to mobile phone telephony, and particularly, but not exclusively, to mobile phone telephony involving the sending and receiving of text messages using the short message service (SMS).

Conventionally, mobile phone telephony networks include mobile switching centres (MSCs) for switching of application part messages, for example mobile application part (MAP) messages or CAMEL application part (CAP) messages, around the network from sender to receiver, and service control points (SCPs) which provide intelligent networks (INs) for control of the handling of the messages in the network according to a call model such as CAMEL2 (Customised Applications for Mobile Network Enhanced Logic 2). For example, speech messages sent from a pre-pay mobile phone are switched by an MSC to a receiver. The MSC alerts an SCP that a call has been made, and the SCP debits the account of the sender. In the case of SMS text messages, however, these are switched by an MSC to a short message service centre (SMSC) and on to the receiver. Neither the MSC nor the SMSC alerts the SCP that a message has been sent, and the SCP cannot therefore charge for the message at the time it is sent. Instead the SMS text message can only be charged for once it has reached the SMSC, this is usually achieved by down-loading message details for post-processing off-line. By the time this is achieved, the recipient may already have retrieved the message. The sender may be using a pre-pay mobile phone and may not have had sufficient credit to send the SMS text message. This is only detected after the message has been sent to the SMSC, i.e. delivery of the message can be effectively free which is undesirable to the network providers. It is desirable for credit to be checked and charges levied before onward transmission of the SMS text message to the SMSC. Onward transmission can thereby be prevented if the sender bas insufficient credit.

WO 01/01708 (Nokia Networks OY) teaches a method of operating a mobile phone telecommunications network, comprising using at least one mobile switching centre (MSC) of the network to receive at least one message and, as a result, to generate a mobile application part (MAP) message, transmitting the MAP message from the MSC to at least one service control point (SCP) of the network, and operating the SCP to process the MAP message.

Furthermore, WO 01/01708 also discloses a mobile phone telecommunications network comprising at least one mobile switching centre (MSC) having a message receiver, a MAP message generator, and a MAP message transmitter, and at least one service control point (SCP) having a MAP message receiver and a MAP message processor, wherein the message receiver of the MSC receives at least one message and as a result thereof the MAP message generator of the MSC generates a MAP message and the MAP message transmitter of the MSC sends this to the MAP message receiver of the SCP, and the MA message receiver of the SCP receives the MAP message and MAP message processor of the SCP processes the MAP message.

WO 01/01708 also teaches service control point (SCP) comprising a receiver for receiving at least one MAP message, and a processor for processing the MAP message.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of operating a mobile phone telecommunications network characterised in tat processing of the MAP message by the SCP comprises determining the subsequent handling of the MAP message.

The message received by the MSC may comprise a signalling message, for example relating to the connection of a speech message. The message received by the MSC may comprise a text message, for example a text message generated using the short message service (SMS), an ‘SMS text message’. The MSC may receive the message from, for example, a mobile phone or from a management system of the network. The MAP message generated by the MSC may contain information about the message received by the MSC. The MAP message generated by the MSC may contain at least part of the message received by the MSC. For example, when the message received by the MSC comprises a text message, the MAP message generated by the MSC may contain part or all of the text of the text message.

Processing of the MAP message by the SCP may comprise interrogation of the MAP message. For example, processing of the MAP message by the SCP may comprise interrogation of the MAP message to obtain information from the MAP message.

Processing of the MAP message by the SCP may comprise determining whether or not the MAP message should be sent onwards towards an intended receivers. Processing of the MAP message by the SCP may comprise interrogation of the MAP message to obtain information from the MAP message, and using the information in determining the subsequent handling of the MAP message. For example, the information may comprise details of the identity of the sender of the message received by the MSC, and may be used to access an account of the sender and to determine whether or not there is sufficient credit to allow sending of the message onwards towards an intended receiver. The information may comprise detail of the identity of the sender of the message received by the MSC, and may be used in determining whether or not messages from such a sender should be sent onwards towards an intended receiver.

When processing of the MAP message by the SCP comprises determining that the MAP message should not be sent onwards towards an intended receiver, the SCP maybe used to discard the MAP message.

When processing of we MAP message by the SCP comprises determining that the MAP message should be sent onwards towards an intended receiver, the SCP may send the MAP message onwards towards the receiver by sending it to one or more MSCs, or one or more store and forward centres. The SCP may change the destination address of the MAP message to send it onwards towards the receiver. When the MAP message received by the SCP comprises an SMS text MAP message, i.e. a MAP message generated by the MSC as a result of receiving an SMS text message, the SCP may send the SMS text MAP message onwards towards the receiver by sending it to a short message service centre (SMSC).

The SCP may be operated to expect to receive a notification message containing information on successful sending of the MAP message onwards towards an intended receiver. The SCP may be operated to use a lack of receipt of the notification message to, for example, trigger crediting of the account of the sender of the message to the MSC.

Processing of the MAP message by the SCP may comprise charging a sender of the message received by the MSC. For example, processing of the MAP message by the SCP may comprise charging a sender of the message received by the MSC if the MAP message is sent onwards towards an intended receiver. Processing of the MAP message by the SCP may comprise charging a sender of the message received by the MSC before the MAP message is sent onwards towards an intended receiver. Thus ‘real-time’ charging is possible. Processing of the MAP message by the SCP may comprise interrogation of the MAP message to obtain information from the MAP message, and using the information in charging a sender of the message received by the MSC. For example, the information may comprise details of the identity of the sender of the message received by the MSC, and may be used to access an account of the sender and to charge the sender. The information may comprise details of the length of the MAP message, and may be used to charge the sender.

Processing of the MAP message by the SCP may comprise triggering dispatch of a message to the sender of the message received by the MSC. Processing of the MAP message by the SCP may comprise interrogation of the MAP message to obtain information from the MAP message, and using the information in triggering dispatch of a message to the sender of the message received by the MSC. For example, the information may comprise details of the identity of the sender of the message received by the MSC, and may be used to access an account of the sender, to determine the credit available, and to trigger dispatch of a message to the sender if the credit is insufficient to allow sending of the message onwards towards an intended receiver.

Processing of the MAP message by the SCP may comprise analysis of the MAP message. Processing of the MAP message by the SCP may comprise interrogation of the MAP message to obtain information from the MAP message, and using the information in analysis of the MAP message. A number of MAP messages may be received by the SCP, and processing of these messages may comprise interrogating the messages to obtain information therefrom, and using the information to perform an analysis of the MAP messages, for example to analyse the sources of the MAP messages.

The SCP may provide one or more service logic programs (SLPs). Each SLP may define one or more processes carried out by the SCP. Processing of the MAP message by the SCP may comprise running one or more SLPs. Processing of the MAP message by the SCP may comprise using the MAP message to trigger running of one or more SLPs.

The MAP message received by the SCP may comprise an SMS text MAP message, i.e. a MAP message generated by the MSC as a result of receipt of an SMS text message. The SMS text MAP message may comprise part or all of the text of the SMS text message. The SCP may provide one or more SLPs, ‘SMS SLPs’, which define one or more processes carried out by the SCP on SMS text MAP messages. Processing of an SMS text MAP message by the SCP may comprise running one or more SMS SLPs. Processing of an SMS text MAP message by the SCP may comprise using the SMS text MAP message to trigger running of one or more SMS SLPs.

The invention may be readily implemented in known mobile phone telecommunications networks, such as CAMEL2 telecommunications networks. Such networks include one or more SCPs which are already configured to accept MAP messages, therefore modification of the SCP hardware is not necessary. Such networks may also include one or more SMSCs which are already configured to accept SMS text MAP messages, and no modification of the SMSC hardware is necessary. To implement the invention in known networks it is necessary to change the destination address of the MAP messages generated by the MSC as a result of the messages received by the MSC, so that the MAP messages are directed to the SCP. This is a straightforward modification, and can be made by modifying data held in the MSC, or by programming the SCP address into the SIM cards of mobile phones already subscribing to the network and new phones being introduced to the network, such addresses then being passed on to the generated MAP messages. The operator of the network has the option of changing the address for certain types of mobile phone calls or certain groups of customers. The invention therefore has generic application, i.e. it can be implemented in a variety of different networks, network specific alterations are not necessary.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a mobile phone telecommunications network characterised in that the MAP message processor determines whether or not the MAP message should be sent onwards towards an intended receiver.

The MAP message generated by the MSC and received by the SCP may comprise an SMS text MAP message, i.e. a MAP message generated by the MSC as a result of receipt of an SMS text message. The SMS text MAP message generated by the MSC may contain part or all of the text of the SMS text message. Processing of the MAP message by the SCP processor may comprise, for example, interrogation of the MAP message, determining the subsequent handling of the MAP message, charging a sender of the message received by the MSC, triggering dispatch of a message to a sender of the message received by the MSC, analysis of the MAP message.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a service control point (SCP) characterised in that the processor determines whether or not the MAP message should be sent onwards towards the intended receiver.

The SCP may comprise a computer. The SCP receiver may provide or access software for receiving the MAP message. The SCP processor may provide or access software for processing the MAP message. Processing of the MAP message by the SCP processor may comprise, for example, interrogation of the MAP message, determining the subsequent handling of the MAP message, charging a sender of the message received by the MSC, triggering dispatch of a message to a sender of the message received by the MSC, analysis of the MAP message. The processing software may comprise one or more service logic programs (SLPs). Each SLP may define one or more processes carried out by the SCP. Processing of a MAP message by the SCP processor of the SCP may comprise running one or more SLPs. Processing of a MAP message by the SCP may comprise using the MAP message to trigger running of one or more SLPs. The MAP message received by the MAP message receiver of the SCP may comprise an SMS text MAP message, i.e. a MAP message generated by the MSC as a result of receipt of an SMS text message. The processing software may comprise one or more SLPs, ‘SMS SLPs’, which define one or more of the processes carried out by the SCP processor of the SCP on SMS text MAP messages. Processing of an SMS text MAP message by the SCP processor of the SCP may comprise ruing one or more SLPs. Processing of an SMS text MAP message by the SCP may comprise using the SMS text MAP message to tagger running of one or more SMS SLPs. The SCP may comprise a transmitter for sending the MAP message onwards towards an intended receiver.

An embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a mobile phone telecommunications network according to the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the service control point (SCP) of the network of FIG. 1.

With reference to FIG. 1, the mobile phone telecommunications network 1 comprises a servicing mobile switching centre (MSC) 2, a service control point (SCP) 3, a networking mobile switching centre (MSC) 4, and a short message service centre (SMSC) 5. The servicing MSC 2 is connected to the SCP 3, the SCP 3 is connected to the networking MSC 4, and the networking MSC 4 is connected to the SMSC 5, as shown. The connections allow two-way transmission of messages between the various components of the network.

In this embodiment, a text message is sent via the short message service (SMS) from a mobile phone 6 of a sender to the servicing MSC 2. As a result of the receipt of the SMS text message, the servicing MSC 2 generates an SMS text MAP message which contains the text of the SMS text message. The SMS text MAP message is sent to the SCP 3, which receives and processes it. If appropriate, the SCP 3 then sends the SMS text MAP message to the networking MSC 4. The networking MSC 4 receives the SMS text MAP message and sends it to the SMSC 5. The SMSC 5 receives the SMS text MAP message and sends it to the mobile phone 7 of a receiver.

The structure of the SCP 3 is shown in more detail in FIG. 2. The SCP 3 illustrated here comprises a computer, which comprises a switch control 10, a service logic program (SLP) storage facility 11, and a customer database storage facility 12. The switch control 10 is connected via a set of signalling links 13, 14 to the mobile phone telecommunications network 1. An SMS text MAP message from the servicing MSC 2 of the network 1 is sent to the SCP 3 and is received by the switch control 10 via the signalling link 13. The switch control 10 processes the SMS text MAP message by using it to trigger running of one or more of the SLPs stored in the SLP storage facility 11. For example, an SLP may be run which interrogates the SMS text MAP message to obtain details of the identity of the sender. The SLP then uses this information to interrogate the customer database in the storage facility 12. This contains details of the account of the sender, and the SLP checks the balance of the account to ascertain that the sender has sufficient credit to pay for sending the message to the receiver. If this is the case, the SLP, instructs the switch control 10 to change the destination address of the SMS text MAP message to the SMSC 5 of the network. The switch control 10 changes the address and sends the SMS text MAP message to the SMSC 5 via the signalling link 14 and networking MSC 4. The SLP causes the account of the sender held in the storage facility 12 to be debited. The SMSC 5 sends the message onwards to the mobile phone 7 of the receiver. If the sender does not have sufficient credit to pay for sending the message to the receiver, the SLP instructs the switch control 10 to discard the SMS text MAP message, and to send a notification message to the servicing MSC 2 of the network for onward transmission to the sender.

In this embodiment, operation of only one SLP is described. It will be appreciated that the SCP 3 may provide many SLPs, which define other processes undertaken by the SCP, for SMS text messages and other types of messages. 

1-37. (Canceled)
 38. A method of operating a mobile phone telecommunications network, comprising the steps of: a) using at least one mobile switching center (MSC) of the network to receive at least one message and, as a result, to generate a mobile application part (MAP) message; b) transmitting the MAP message from the MSC to at least one service control point (SCP) of the network; and c) operating the SCP to process the MAP message by determining a subsequent handling of the MAP message.
 39. The method according to claim 38, in that the at least one message received by the MSC comprises a text message.
 40. The method according to claim 39, in that the text message is generated using a short message service (SMS).
 41. The method according to claim 38, in that the MSC receives the at least one message from a mobile phone.
 42. The method according to claim 38, in that the MAP message generated by the MSC contains information about the at least one message received by the MSC.
 43. The method according to claim 38, in that the MAP message generated by the MSC contains at least part of the at least one message received by the MSC.
 44. The method according to claim 38, in that processing of the MAP message by the SCP comprises the step of interrogating the MAP message to obtain information from the MAP message.
 45. The method according to claim 38, in that processing of the MAP message by the SCP comprises the step of determining whether or not the MAP message should be sent onwards towards an intended receiver.
 46. The method according to claim 38, in that processing of the MAP message by the SCP comprises the step of interrogating the MAP message to obtain information from the MAP message, and the step of using the information in determining the subsequent handling of the MAP message.
 47. The method according to claim 46, in that the information comprises details of an identity of a sender of the at least one message received by the MSC, and is used to access an account of the sender and to determine whether or not there is sufficient credit to allow sending of the at least one message onwards towards an intended receiver.
 48. The method according to claim 46, in that the information comprises details of an identity of a sender of the at least one message received by the MSC, and is used in determining whether or not messages from the sender should be sent onwards towards an intended receiver.
 49. The method according to claim 38, in that when processing of the MAP message by the SCP comprises determining that the MAP message should not be sent onwards towards an intended receiver, the SCP discards the MAP message.
 50. The method according to claim 38, in that when processing of the MAP message by the SCP comprises determining that the MAP message should be sent onwards towards an intended receiver, the SCP sends the MAP message onwards towards the receiver by sending it to at least one MSC, or at least one store and forward center.
 51. The method according to claim 50, in that the SCP changes a destination address of the MAP message to send it onwards towards the receiver.
 52. The method according to claim 38, in that processing of the MAP message by the SCP comprises the step of charging a sender of the at least one message received by the MSC.
 53. The method according to claim 52, in that processing of the MAP message by the SCP comprises the step of charging the sender of the at least one message received by the MSC if the MAP message is sent onwards towards an intended receiver.
 54. The method according to claim 52, in that processing of the MAP message by the SCP comprises the step of charging the sender of the at least one message received by the MSC before the MAP message is sent onwards towards an intended receiver.
 55. The method according to claim 52, in that processing of the MAP message by the SCP comprises the step of interrogating the MAP message to obtain information from the MAP message, and the step of using the information in charging the sender of the at least one message received by the MSC.
 56. The method according to claim 55, in that the information comprises details of an identity of the sender of the at least one message received by the MSC, and is used to access an account of the sender and to charge the sender.
 57. The method according to claim 55, in that the information comprises details of a length of the MAP message, and is used to charge the sender.
 58. The method according to claim 38, in that processing of the MAP message by the SCP comprises the step of triggering dispatch of a message to the sender of the at least one message received by the MSC.
 59. The method according to claim 58, in that processing of the MAP message by the SCP comprises the step of interrogating the MAP message to obtain information from the MAP message, and using the information in triggering dispatch of the message to the sender of the at least one message received by the MSC.
 60. The method according to claim 59, in that the information comprises details of an identity of the sender of the at least one message received by the MSC, and is used to access an account of the sender to determine a credit available, and to trigger dispatch of a message to the sender if the credit is insufficient to allow sending of the message onwards towards an intended receiver.
 61. The method according to claim 38, in that processing of the MAP message by the SCP comprises the step of analyzing the MAP message.
 62. The method according to claim 38, in that the SCP provides at least one service logic program (SLP) defining at least one process carried out by the SCP.
 63. The method according to claim 62, in that processing of the MAP message by the SCP comprises the step of running the at least one SLP.
 64. The method according to claim 38, in that the MAP message received by the SCP comprises an SMS text MAP message which is generated by the MSC as a result of receipt of an SMS text message.
 65. The method according to claim 64, in that the SCP provides at least one SMS SLP which defines the at least one process carried out by the SCP on the SMS text MAP message.
 66. The method according to claim 65, in that processing of the SMS text MAP message by the SCP comprises the step of running at least one SMS SLP.
 67. A mobile phone telecommunications network, comprising: a) at least one mobile switching center (MSC) having a message receiver; b) a mobile application part (MAP) message generator; c) a MAP message transmitter; and d) at least one service control point (SCP) having a MAP message receiver and a MAP message processor, the message receiver of the MSC receiving at least one message and, as a result, thereof, the MAP message generator of the MSC generates a MAP message and the MAP message transmitter of the MSC sends this to the MAP message receiver of the SCP, the MAP message receiver of the SCP receiving the MAP message, and the MAP message processor of the SCP processing the MAP message by determining whether or not the MAP message should be sent onwards towards an intended receiver.
 68. The network according to claim 67, in that the MAP message received by the SCP comprises an SMS text MAP message, which is a MAP message generated by the MSC as a result of receipt of an SMS text message.
 69. A service control point (SCP), comprising: a) a receiver for receiving at least one mobile application part (MAP) message; and b) a processor for processing the MAP message by determining whether or not the MAP message should be sent onwards towards an intended receiver.
 70. The SCP according to claim 69, in that the SCP processor provides or accesses software for processing the MAP message.
 71. The SCP according to claim 70, in that the processing software comprises at least one service logic program (SLP).
 72. The SCP according to claim 71, in that processing of the at least one MAP message by the SCP processor of the SCP comprises running the at least one SLP.
 73. The SCP according to claim 71, in that the at least one MAP message received by the MAP message receiver of the SCP comprises an SMS text MAP message which is a MAP message generated by a mobile switching center as a result of receipt of an SMS text message, and the processing software comprises at least one SMS SLP which defines at least one process carried out by the SCP processor of the SCP on SMS text MAP messages.
 74. The SCP according to claim 73, in that processing of the SMS text MAP message by the SCP processor of the SCP comprises running at least one SMS SLP. 